Strawberry plant named treasure harvest

ABSTRACT

This invention is a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘Treasure Harvest’. The fruit of ‘Treasure Harvest’ is very large, very firm, flavorful, glossy dark red on the outside, and moderately resistant to Anthracnose fruit rot diseases. The yield is high and tolerant to the heat when grown in west central and west southern Florida. Because of its high yield, firmness, long shell life and excellent fruit quality, ‘Treasure Harvest’ is recommended for fresh market. Due to its dark red color and firm fruit, ‘Treasure Harvest’ is also suitable for processing.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Fragaria×ananassa Duchesne

VARIETY DESIGNATION

‘Treasure Harvest’

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct short day strawberry cultivar of the presentinvention was a part of an ongoing breeding program carried out atNaples, Fla. which has a subtropical climate. The seed resulted from thecontrolled cross between the strawberry plants ‘Treasure’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 12, 414) and ‘A4’ (not patented).

The seeds resulting from this cross were germinated in a green house,and seedlings were transplanting to raised beds where they fruitedduring the season 2001-2002. ‘Treasure Harvest’ was selected for itshigh yield and superior fruit quality.

For the purpose of further evaluation, ‘Treasure Harvest’ has beenasexually propagated by runners at Naples, Fla; Kentville, Nova Scotia,Canada; and Laurel Springs, N.C.

During seasons 2005-06 &2006-07 the new cultivar had been put in growerstrialed in Plant City, Fla. During the trials this cultivar has shownits characteristics of high yield, large fruit size, good flavor, firmfruit, distinguishable glossy dark red fruit color, and moderateresistance to strawberry Anthracnose fruit rot disease.

The new cultivar of present invention can be distinguished from‘Treasure’ and other commercial cultivars.

COMPARISON TO CLOSEST CULTIVARS

The commercial cultivar that we believe to be the closest comparison to‘Treasure Harvest’ in appearance from those known to us is‘Treasure’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,414). However, there are severalcharacteristics of ‘Treasure Harvest’ that are different from or notpossessed by ‘Treasure’. Those are:

Size: The fruit size of ‘Treasure Harvest’ is distinguishable largerwhen compared with ‘Treasure’.

Firmness: The fruit of ‘Treasure Harvest’ is distinguishable firmer whencompared with ‘Treasure’.

Plant size: The plant size of ‘Treasure Harvest’ is distinguishablelarger than that of ‘Treasure’.

Anthracnose fruit rot resistance: The plant of ‘Treasure Harvest’ hasbeen screened with three species of strawberry anthracnose fruit rot:Colletotrichum acutatum, C. fragariae and C. gloeosporioides. ‘TreasureHarvest’ was found to be moderately resistant to anthracnose fruit rot,which is one of the major diseases in strawberry growth in thesoutheastern United States. In comparison, ‘Treasure’ is moderatelysusceptible to anthracnose fruit rot disease.

Bracts: There are no bracts on ‘Treasure Harvest’, but the frequency ofbracts on the petioles of ‘Treasure’ is 63.6%.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows the general flowering and fruiting characteristics of theplants during mid-season fruit production in Florida. Depicted are: a) atypical mature compound leaf, b) a representative complete flower duringthe mid-fruiting season, c) a partial fruiting truss including differentstages of flowering and fruiting, and d) a typical mature fruit.

FIG. 2 shows plural fruit of the claimed plant reflecting the variationin fruit shape and size within market grade and shows seed and calyxplacement relative to the fruit surface, as well as the attractive anduniform coloration of the ripe fruit at harvest stage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

‘Treasure Harvest’ is a new and distinctive short-day type strawberrycultivar which is the result of cross breeding between ‘Treasure’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 12,414) and ‘A4’ (not patented). The female parent‘Treasure’ has the characteristics of large fruit size, high yield,early production, stable production, good fruit quality and good flavor.The male parent ‘A4’ has the characteristics of extra large fruit size,high yield, and vigorous plant. The novel cultivar ‘Treasure Harvest’resembles the female parent in possessing high yield, stable production,good fruit quality, and good flavor and resembles the male parent inpossessing extra large fruit and vigorous plant. ‘Treasure Harvest’ issuperior to both parents in possessing firmer fruit, longer shelf lifeof fruit, and more resistance to Anthracnose fruit rot.

The distinctive characteristics of this new strawberry cultivar,described in detail below were observed upon its discovery andthroughout the repeated test periods.

-   Plants and foliage: The plants and foliage characteristics of    ‘Treasure Harvest’, collected about 4 months after planting at    Naples, Fla. Results are presented as below.-   Plant & foliage characteristics for ‘treasure harvest’:-   Plant:    -   -   Average size.—Height (mm). — 198.; Diameter (mm). — 443.        -   Shape.—Globose.        -   Vigor.—Strong.        -   Root initiation.—Good rooting, about 5 days to 1 week.-   Foliage:-   Terminal leaflet:    -   -   Length (mm).—70.        -   Width (mm).—60.        -   Shape of terminal leaflet.—Orbicular-ovate with serrulate            margin.        -   Apex shape of leaflet.—Rounded.        -   Base shape of leaflet.—Rounded.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Vein color.—2.5GY 7/8.        -   Color (munsell color charts).—Abaxial. — 5GY 3/4.; Adaxial.            — 5GY 5/4.        -   Leaf pubescence.—Moderate and direction is acropetal.        -   Serrations number of terminal leaflets (mean).—19.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length (mm).—136.        -   Diameter (mm).—3.        -   Color (munsell color charts).—5GY 7/6.        -   Pubescence.—Heavy and direction is acropetal.-   Petiolule:    -   -   Length (mm).—8.        -   Diameter (mm).—1.4.        -   Color (munsell color charts).—5GY 6/6.        -   Base angles of terminal leaflets (half blade)(degree).—55.-   Stolons:    -   -   Length (mm).—250.        -   Number.—Produced about 25 per plant.        -   Thickness (diameter, mm).—2.        -   Pubescence.—Moderate and direction is acropetal.-   Resistance to disease and stress: The plant of ‘Treasure Harvest’    has been screened with three species of strawberry anthracnose fruit    rot: Colletotrichum acutatum, C fragariae and C. gloeosporioides.    ‘Treasure Harvest’ was found to be moderately resistant to    anthracnose fruit rot, which is one of the major diseases in    strawberry growth in the southeastern United States. ‘Treasure    Harvest’ is moderately tolerant to rain cracking and high and low    temperatures.-   Flowering and fruiting characteristics: The distinguishing flowering    and fruiting characteristics of ‘Treasure Harvest’ plants were    collected about 4-5 months after planting at Naples, Fla. Results    are presented as below. The flowers are self-fertile and pollination    is good when environmental condition is good. The center of the    fruit is solid with little to no hollowing. The Canadian produced    ‘Treasure Harvest’ plants typically begin to harvest about seven and    half weeks after planting in Florida commercial production area.-   Bud: At the stage of largest size, 1 day before flower opens.    -   -   Diameter (mm).—36.        -   Length (mm).—19.        -   Base shape of flower bud.—Rounded.        -   Color (munsell color charts).—Upper: 5GY 4/6. Base: 5GY 6/4.-   Flower: At fully open stage, 1 day after starting to open.    -   -   Diameter (mm).—40.        -   Number of flower/cluster.—3-5.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Bloom time and period in specific location.—The earliest            buds open about 4 weeks after planting, for plants planted            in mid-October. Plants bloom from November until May when            observed at the breeding field in Naples, Fla.-   Petals:    -   -   Length (mm).—13.        -   Width (mm).—13.        -   Shape.—Obtuse. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Obtuse.        -   Color (no color chart given).—White.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Number.—Mean: About 7. Range: 6-7.-   Sepals:    -   -   Length (mm).—15.        -   Width (mm).—8.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate.        -   Color (munsell color charts).—Abaxial: 5GY4/6. Adaxial: 5GY            6/4.        -   Number.—Mean: 14. Range: 12-14.-   Reproductive organs:-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—25-38.        -   Length (mm).—2-5.5.        -   Color (munsell color charts).—5Y 8/10.-   Pistils:    -   -   Number & location.—About 200-400 pistils attached on the            surface of the receptacle.        -   Length (mm).—1.8.        -   Color (munsell color charts).—2.5Y 8/12.-   Fruit:    -   -   Shape.—long Conic and wedge.-   Size & color:    -   -   Green fruit.—At maximum size about 1-2 days before starting            to turn pink. Size: Length (mm): 38. Diameter (mm): 31.            Color (Munsell color charts): Exterior: 2.5GY 8/6. Flesh:            White (no color chart given).        -   Pink fruit.—About 1-2 days before red. Size: Length            (mm): 44. Diameter (mm): 35. Color (Munsell color charts):            Exterior: 7.5R 5/14. Flesh: 7.5R 5/12.        -   Ripe fruit-red.—About 1-2 days after pink.        -   Size.—Length (mm): 45-55. Diameter (mm): 36-50. Weight            (gram/fruit): Average: 28.4. Primary: 34.        -   Color (munsell color charts).—Exterior: 6.25R 3/12. Flesh:            7.5R 4/12. Red color either from middle to both ends or from            tip to shoulder.-   Firmness of fruit: The firmness of fruit, measured by Fruit Pressure    Tester equipped with a 2.5 mm diameter plunger tip: Mean. — 476.    Range. — 375-550.-   Sugar content of fruit: The sugar content or sweetness, measured as    soluble solids: Mean. — 9.9. Range. — 9-11.4.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Of flowers.—Flower at fully open stage.        -   Length (mm).—40-115.        -   Diameter (mm).—1.2.        -   Color (munsell color charts).—5GY 7/6.        -   Of fruits.—Red ripe fruit stage.        -   Length (mm).—150-180.        -   Diameter (mm).—2.4.        -   Color (munsell color charts).—5GY 6/8.-   Seeds:    -   -   Number (mean)/fruit.—312.        -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Size.—length (mm): 1-1.5. Diameter (mm): 0.5-1.        -   Color (munsell color charts).—2.5Y 8/8-5YR 6/10.        -   Calyx position.—Even/slight. Indent.        -   Seed position.—Even.

The yield of ‘treasure harvest’ is compared with that of ‘treasure’ intable 1 TABLE 1 Data obtained from the 2005-06 fruiting season in PlantCity, Florida Yield Treasure Harvest’ Treasure’ (gram/plt) December 48.6  39.1 January 103.6 149.2 February 145.4 132.4 March 1st-15^(th)446.9 454.0 Total 744.5 774.7

1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named ‘TreasureHarvest’, as herein described and illustrated.